HOPE, Ark., — Eric Taylor Easterling, 29, of Hope, Ark., was arrested yesterday in connection with the alleged commercial burglary and theft of a Polaris Razor all-terrain vehicle from Parrish Equipment Supply. Easterling also was charged with the alleged theft of a 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck outside the Pilgrim’s Pride Feed Mill on Highway 29 South in Hope.
Deputy Derick Bunn was dispatched at 9:19 a.m. yesterday to 3307 Highway 29 South in reference to a break in at Parrish Equipment Supply. The store manager said when he pulled into work he noticed the gate, where all the ATV’s are stored after business hours, was pushed open and that one of the four-seat Polaris RZR 900s was missing, said Hempstead County Sheriff James A. Singleton.
“Deputy Bunn took another theft report at about 1 p.m. on Monday, July 28, from Donna Moody at the Pilgrim Pride Feed Mill,” Sheriff Singleton said.
The alleged theft came as a big shock to one bank employee.
Donna Moody, whose husband had parked his pickup truck at the feed mill, was working her job at First Bank when Easterling allegedly drove up and attempted to cash one of her own checks. Easterling also was allegedly driving her husband’s stolen 2003 Toyota pickup truck.
“She stated that her husband, Donald Moody, had parked their 2003 Toyota Tacoma at approximately 5:50 that morning,” the sheriff said. “As strange as it seems, Donna works at the bank and the check was taken from her husband’s truck when Easterling allegedly stole the truck,” Sheriff Singleton said.
Investigators caught up with Easterling later in the day at the L&W Scrap Yard. After interviewing him, deputies were able to gather information as to the whereabouts of the stolen ATV and recovered it. Both items have been returned to the owners, the sheriff said.
Easterling is in now custody and is charged with commercial burglary; breaking and entering; theft of property under $10,000; theft of property over $10,000; and other chargers are pending contingent upon the outcome of the investigation.
Easterling is being held at the Hempstead County Detention Facility pending a first court appearance.
